Musings of a Crazy Redhead

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September 08, 2017

My baby was supposed to be sleeping through the night consistently now. No, he does not. He still wakes in the early morning several times a week.

I have retired before 10:30 almost every night for 3 weeks, and I am still tired.

Whatever. Who needs sleep anyway?

Unfortunately, my Fitbit tells me how little sleep I get. Oh, look, 6 hours of sleep 3 nights in a row. I may lay in bed for 9 hours, but I spend 2-3 hours up with my baby or toddler or whatever. Hunger wakes me at 4 am. This morning, I was able to fall back asleep without eating for the first time in several weeks. My husband takes turns too with the baby and toddler. We are just doomed.

I am switching my mood stabilizer to a different one that is an appetite suppressant too. I don't believe it has affected my sleep. (It's the 2 foot army crawler affecting my sleep.) The new mood stabilizer helps racing thoughts, which I still experience on my current mood stabilizer. I won't go off my current mood stabilizer until I tolerate a high enough dose on the new one.

I adjust my sleep medicine to how tired I am the night before. Last night I took a higher dose, so that is why I am probably still tired today, but I am trying to make up for several missed hours earlier this week.

Do naps help? They keep me sane for an hour or three.

My baby and toddler never nap together or long enough together for the past month. What happened! By the time I wind down, my baby usually wakes.

I love when my toddler climbs in his baby brother's crib and shakes him awake. Such brotherly love.

March 21, 2017

From the beginning of humankind, we have sought for the truth. We want to know the answers to those deep questions about life and search through science, religion, philosophy, and society. God wants us to ask the tough questions because it builds our faith. He will answer our questions...but in different times or ways then we expect.

Satan intervenes during our quest with half-truths, flattering words, distractions, and lies. He yearns to discourage us when we face troubling questions and moral dilemmas.

The First Desire for Truth & Knowledge

In the Garden of Eden, God imparted eternal truth and knowledge to Adam and Eve. This included the plan to return to Heavenly Father and to be like Him. However, Adam and Eve's paradise--which literally means to form walls around--soon became a prison. Particularly, this commandment of warning and choice halted their progress:

Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat, But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it, nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee; but, remember that I forbid it, for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die (emphasis added; Moses 3:16-17).

Eve desired more knowledge to be like God as he had taught her. And she desired to follow every commandment to multiply and replenish the earth. Thus, Eve recognized truth--but not the lie yet--in Satan's half-truth about the forbidden fruit:

"Ye shall surely not die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as the gods, knowing good from evil" (emphasis added; Genesis 3:4-5).

Adam and Eve chose to not heed God's warning, but follow the other commandments. They fell on the double-edged sword of seeking knowledge, experiencing sorrow and joy. Their fall led to our existence (see 2 Ne. 2:25).

Paradoxically, God cast Adam and Eve out on their journey back to Him.

Historical Quests for Truth

Questioning aspects of religion has led to many breakthroughs throughout history. The Bible records many of the answers to spiritual questions from Adam to Paul.

According to LDS belief, Jesus Christ's entire church collapsed when His apostles died. Only records remained, but no Priesthood authority. A few hundred years later, Catholicism and Orthodoxy took shape with parts of the truth intact.

Many questioned the power and doctrine of Roman Catholicism (which led to eventual change in Catholicism).

Martin Luther questioned the doctrine of indulgences and his 99 points. The Baptists questioned how baptism should really take place. Anne Boleyn convinced Henry VIII to break from Catholicism, though he used it only for his selfish desires.

The Separatists, pilgrims, suffered because of their quest for knowledge outside of the Church of England. Eventually, these questions improved Catholicism itself. Many more questioned practices found in religion, and the contradictions in the Bible.

During the Second Awakening in America, a 14-year-old boy Joseph Smith was on a quest for spiritual knowledge. He received an answer that no church was true, which wasn't what he expected at all!

I believe Jesus Christ restored His Church through Joseph Smith. With each question Joseph Smith had, he received answers (whether he liked the outcome or not, such as plural marriage).

In my church, Joseph Smith's questions led to the restoration of the priesthood, temple ordinances, Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. He and others made mistakes along the way because they had no predecessors to rely on.

Other prophets received revelation about other aspects. Of great concern was why the black men weren't allowed to have the Priesthood. Joseph Smith had ordained a few black men to the Priesthood, but the ordinations stopped after his martyrdom. After Brigham Young, subsequent prophets asked when the Priesthood would be available to all men, no matter their color. The answer came in 1978 to Spencer W. Kimball and the Apostles. This quest for truth lasted for over 100 years. For more information, read this article.

Satan Manipulates Our Desire for Truth

Satan manipulates our drive for knowledge with half-truths, philosophies of men, and knowledge for knowledge sake. He drives us into whatever wind of doctrine that distracts us from the whole truth of God. We get stuck on one passion and neglect the rest. He seeds doubt and casts out faith.

We sometimes search for truth from questionable sources. Instead of searching for answers from the source, we go to the opposition's camp. We can become swamped with so much useless knowledge, we never attain the highest truths of existence.

How do We Receive Answers?

First, we need to have faith to seek eternal truth. Without the foundation of faith, we are blown off course. We must hold on to what we know until we find the other answers we seek.

Jesus Christ told Oliver Cowdery during the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "you must study it out in your mind" (D&C 9:8). The Lord wants us to use our brains and hearts to find answers. This inherently means to ask questions.

We prepare ourselves for an answer when we pray and clear our minds. Then we listen for answers. We allow the quiet to settle upon us.

How do we know if something is true? When the Holy Ghost speaks peace to our hearts and our minds (D&C 8:2).

The Answers that Never Come

I have had questions that sometimes I don't have a satisfactory answer to. I try to hold on to what I do know. Some answers remain for eternity.

I wonder why the women don't have the priesthood in the LDS faith. I have some answers, but mostly more questions. I read Sheri L. Dew's book Women and the Priesthood, which gave me some answers. When men would say that she didn't have the Priesthood in her home, Sheri Dew responded that she had access to the Priesthood in her home through her baptismal and temple covenants.

I have access to the Priesthood authority of God when I keep my baptismal and temple covenants. I can't rely on my husband or any other Priesthood holder to be present all the time. On the other hand, a man alone cannot give himself a Priesthood blessing. Another Priesthood holder has to do it.

What do women have that correlates with the Priesthood? I've concluded that it is not motherhood, but service. We have an authority that is veiled from the world.

I wonder why some struggle with same-sex attraction and gender dysphoria. My thoughts are that it is an affliction similar to bipolar, but it does throw in a lot of kinks. The jury is still out.

Some answers will only come in the eternities. In the meantime, I hold on to what I know. Like science, spirituality is a
lifetime exploration that adjusts to new discoveries.

March 05, 2017

I wrote this after the Orlando shooting last June. I never posted this, I don't know why I didn't immediately. The next day, my peace waned.

At my first ultrasound, the maternal fetal medicine doctor said that pregnant women urinate or metabolize their medication faster during the third trimester of pregnancy. She suggested I visit my psychiatrist before 26 weeks.

My family practice doctor suggested I see the psychiatrist too. He said the pregnancy and medication guidelines have changed. There are no more pregnancy medication categories like X will kill the baby. Each medication has individual guidelines. Whatever medication keeps the mother stable and won't harm the baby. Some medicines just require extra folic acid to prevent cleft palate.

I set up the psychiatric appointment with the expectation that I would need more medication. I felt anxiety over national, local, and family events before going in.

I sought peace about these events. I reminded myself that I am not in control of the world. God is closer than we know. He is watching out for us. My mind grasped the principle of agency. God respects our agency to the point that he lets people do bad things...and good things. Good can only exist in opposition of bad.

So facing my stresses, I walked into my appointment. My psychiatrist surprised me when she said I seemed at peace and relaxed. That I was rolling with the punches...must be the third boy. She kept me on the same dosages. Really? I'm not worse. I'm even doing better?

Truthfully, I feel more at peace even though politics and other events concern me. But I can only do what I can do. I can only influence toward good. Opinions are just opinions. The serenity prayer put me at ease:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

Two nights ago, I couldn't fall asleep and cried that morning. I'm done with being sweaty, uncomfortable, nauseous, and just plain pregnant. My head hurt with congestion and aches from a cold. I wanted my mom! I want the baby OUT.

My husband stayed home that day.

My home is more at peace since my husband feels more at peace too. He has sought for peace with his anxieties. He has made more progress over the past year. We just keep swimming.

I expect my boys to help out. They need to clean some before they can get on the computer. Luckily, two of them are old enough to do harder chores, carry laundry, and capture their toddler brother. Since I can't bend, they are my benders! Since I can't chase a toddler, they are my chasers!

I "called in the cavalry" for my oldest to capture his brother, and now he gladly says he will "call in the cavalry."

My boys complain some, don't always do what I ask, and other times jump at the chance to help. They choose what to do, and luckily, they usually they help out. I hope it's because of the greater peace we strive for in our home.

I go to counseling every 5-8 weeks. My insurance changed, so now I'm in the process of finding a new counselor. I like my previous counselor. I thought of paying the full price for each session, which I did for three months, but I couldn't keep up with that. It has taken me four months to finally call a new counselor.

January 31, 2017

With an infant, I get bored while bottle-feeding him for 2-3 hours a day. However, I am stuck in one position. My brain roams around in circles while one hand holds a bottle and the other holds a book or my phone. There's only so much smiling at my kid I can do.

The fourth boy is the slowest eater of all my boys.

I have found a few things I can do while bottle-feeding: anything my smart phone can do, reading, watching TV, talking, ineffectively commanding my troop of boys, and eating.

On my smart phone, I check email, text, thumb through Facebook and Twitter, read online articles, and play games. But I can't type long comments or blog posts or create memes easily on my phone. I am so limited!

I can't stop my toddler from pouring/spilling milk or tossing everything off tall furniture. It is playtime for the third when I feed the fourth. When I am free, I am not free. I chase the other three and do chores.

I really fall into trouble thumbing through Facebook and Twitter. My brain explodes with the cultural and political events of the day. Do I read that article? Do I respond to that person's comment?

Oh, the trouble I could stir!

I don't like offending others, and I don't like always agreeing either. I have friends and family who are polar opposites on the political spectrum. Besides, I don't want to look stupid. Quite the paradox.

My former counselor wondered at how many politically-minded Facebook friends and family I have. Yes, you all are! And then you have to take a Facebook/Twitter break too like me.

Thus, I may start an alternative facts Twitter or Facebook account where I only deal in politics and current events. Have a separate space for the controversial.

Then I think of the businesses or jobs I could start: a used clothing store, writing, teaching English online at ridiculously early hours, a kids' language exchange program, a homeless shelter, earn my Master's degree, ad infinitum.

I look forward to when my infant can feed himself. Then I will have my hands free--to catch the fourth as he crawls away.

March 17, 2016

My husband begged me if there was anything I thought was positive about pregnancy. Well, let's see...I have a baby come out in 9 months. Isn't that the point?

He said I enjoyed feeling the baby move inside me with the other pregnancies. Yes, and that was about it.

So for my husband--I will write the positives of pregnancy.

Positive Pregnancy Experiences

I can get pregnant. I feel bad that other women struggle for years with infertility. I don't know what to say to them because the longest I've ever waited is 10 months to get pregnant.

I can feel the baby move...and sit on my bladder.

I have increased saliva production that helps my teeth not rot as fast from stomach acid and the baby absorbing the nutrients from my teeth. The drool just pools on my pillow.

I have a heightened sniffer. I can tell my toddler's diaper is filthy from a room away. Then I ask my husband to change it. He never complains about changing them. I can smell my human body.

My family jumps out of my way when I start gagging. I've never seen my oldest move so fast. Maybe that's what I should do when my boys refuse to get off the computer.

I know all the intricacies of the toilet bowl and the right trajectory to avoid spills.

I get in my sit-ups when I vomit regularly throughout all my pregnancies. I lost 16 pounds with my first (and gained it back). I haven't gained weight so far this pregnancy.

So I would say the actual positive experiences happen after the baby is born. I can bend again. I can eat a normal amount. I'm full for longer than 30 minutes. I can stand the smell of my family's bodies again. I can run. I can breathe deeper. I have energy again even if I am sleep deprived.

Then I enjoy the baby and pray for the next year to go slow but to go real fast. I like my sleep. I like their independence.

February 18, 2016

My husband's work sent a group of employees who were "finishers" to Disneyland with a guest. They pick someone from each work team and his work team has only 8 people. Everyone takes turns on his small development team. If his work hadn't paid for everything, we wouldn't have gone anywhere.

My husband and I debated whether he should take our oldest son or if I should go. We decided I would go, so we could have an 10th anniversary trip six months after the event.

Finding Childcare

My mother-in-law flew out to take care of our boys, but she wasn't coming until 15 hours after we left. Who could I find to watch my boys for 15 hours?

It took several weeks talking with friends and family to finalize that 15 hours of care. I wanted someone who I trusted absolutely (and could drive) because my husband and I would be too far away to take care of any problems. We found two people, but they had to switch the boys from one house to another. The switch worried me because of several factors.

In the meantime, I chewed my nails to the quick and pulled on hangnails. (I had an infection develop from it.) Just thinking of this, I feel stress again.

Well, after we left everything went mostly fine. The switch went off without a hitch. Once Grandma came, I stopped worrying about my kids. Grandmas are great!

Separation Anxiety

Two days before we left for Disneyland, my oldest son had an upset stomach and stayed home from school. He seemed genuinely sick because he lay on the couch for 5 hours and never asked to get on the computer. He felt better later in the day when he was surrounded with family.

The next morning he woke with an upset stomach again. At that point, I was ready to take him to school. He'd been fine the night before.

Suddenly an idea clicked in my brain. He felt sick because of separation anxiety (and jealousy). I proposed Dad spend the day with him (and the two other boys).

The next morning, my son reluctantly let us drop him off at the babysitter's house. The two other boys did just fine.

At the airport, the school called and put on my crying son. We told him he needed to do his best to stay at school and everything would be fine. We were already checked in at the airport.

Over video chat that night, my oldest wouldn't speak to us. He was too mad and too jealous. Yet he wanted to stay in contact. Emotions cause such ironic actions.

What's Continental Breakfast?

Five-star hotels--like the Disney Grand Californian--provide continental breakfast, right? No, they don't. For all you pay, they can't provide a breakfast that a two-star hotel would! They assume only rich people go there. We ain't rich--but we ain't poor.

We figured the gift cards from my husband's work would cover our meals with some left over for souvenirs. First place we stop for brunch, we had to rethink the costs.

We entered the first restaurant in the hotel, The Storyteller's Cafe. The hostess said $31, but we weren't sure. We had the breakfast buffet, unsure how much we'd have to pay. I calculated $62 plus tip, while my husband figured it was $31 for both of us. Yea, it was $62+.

At this rate, we may not be able to cover all our food expenses with the gift cards only useful at Disneyland (not at Downtown Disney). We only had walking access to dining in the parks and hotel. The hotel room had no microwave or fridge. No, you can't make your own meals easily.

Once we entered the park, we found other places only cost $10-$15 per meal. We could afford to eat! The second day we found a snacks place tucked out of sight at the hotel. I wonder why it's the furthest place to walk to get food...

We bought peanut butter, jelly, and bread, which fed us for two meals and snacks. The gift cards covered our food expenses and a few souvenirs.

Wonderful Weekdays!

On Thursday, we walked right into the Grand California Adventure and had no wait to get on the River Run and a few other rides.

We wandered around to other rides and places. My husband got a fast pass to the Cars Race ride for later the night. Fun!

For some insane reason, I proposed we go on California Soarin' roller coaster. My husband and I screamed almost the whole time. I shut my eyes on the loop. I could fall out!

My husband felt comfortable on the loop because he knew gravity would keep us in. I technically know this, but that still doesn't compute when I'm afraid I may pee my pants. He hated the descents and the time getting to it. A picture that we may or may not get from Disney's website tells the story.

The anticipation is worse than the realization.

I was more worried on Soarin' Over California because my feet had nowhere to touch. I wanted a roller coaster again!

Friday morning we went to Disneyland and I felt crowded until the afternoon came. It was so peaceful before.

On the Star Tours ride, I didn't secure a water bottle. It rolled around my feet while I tried to keep it near me. Yea, right.

Don't Rain on My Parade!

Please, please rain on every single dratted Disney parade at dinnertime and nighttime. I used to love parades as a child and teenager, but times change. I want to go from point A to point B without detouring to Point Z. Actually, Disney should have better routes to get around parades!

On Friday night, my husband and I soaked ourselves on Splash Mountain and had to return to the hotel to change before his work dinner. (That picture was even more frightening than California Soarin'). Heading to the restaurant in California Adventures, we walked into a parade. We circled around but hit it again. We waited 15 minutes to cross the street.

Luckily, dinner waited until after the parade. I ate a salad with suspicious textured ingredients, but I couldn't see it in the low light of the restaurant.

We had a fast pass to the Indiana Jones ride for 8:25 pm to 9:25 pm. After dinner, we went back to the hotel room and then headed to Disneyland.

We get in and the color parade is going on. At the entrance we need to go left, but we are forced to go to the right. The way was clear, but "cast members" blocked the way. I griped while my husband took photos.

He said, "We might as well enjoy it."

Never say that to a sleep-deprived woman whose feet hurt from standing in lines all day.

The parade ended and we could move forward, but on the wrong side of Main Street. All we needed to do was cross the street! We were able to go to the other side when cast members directed us the other way--the opposite direction of the ride.

Magical fireworks bloomed over the castle. We saw it from all angles as we circled around it only to run into more ropes and "cast members."

Somehow we found our way to the ride an hour later. I was cursing parades and fireworks heartily by now. Yes, they are magical for some. Open up the way across the street!

I was disappointed in the Indiana Jones ride when I realized it wasn't much of a roller coaster ride. For some reason, I craved the pit and scare in the stomach. Oh the thrills.

When we exited the ride, a "cast member" announced a parade in 15 minutes. I ran as fast as my sore feet could carry me to the exit.

Go Cougars

I wore a BYU shirt at Disneyland, but I felt it was such a subtle symbol. The shirt only has a Y in gemstones on a dark background. (I am not a sports fan, just showing where I graduated from.) I hoped to feel some solidarity with others.